Gobi Partners

WHO WE ARE

Gobi Partners is a leading Asia-focused venture capital firm with US$1.6 billion in assets under management (AUM), headquartered in Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong. Founded in 2002, Gobi now has a network of 15 locations, raised 17 funds and invested in 380 startups. The firm supports entrepreneurs from early to growth stages, with a particular focus on emerging markets. Gobi’s core mission includes empowering underserved entrepreneurs, promoting gender equality and circular economy initiatives, driving innovation in new markets and technologies, and nurturing entrepreneurial ecosystems. As a UN Global Compact Participant, Gobi aligns its strategies with universal principles on human rights, labour, environment, and anti-corruption.

$1,100,000,000

TARGET SIZE OF FUNDS

Sector

Fintech, Blockchain, Digital Media, Travel, Tech-Agnostic, Marketplace Apps, E-commerce/ Consumer Internet, Agtech

Stage

Series B, Series C, Seed, Series A

Region

Asia, Middle East/ North Africa (MENA)

Countries

China, HK, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, UAE, Pakistan, Egypt, Phillipines, Vietnam, Singapore, Asia

Founder(s)

Thomas Tsao

Thomas G. Tsao co-founded Gobi Partners in 2002. Gobi’s regional platform supports entrepreneurs from the early to growth stages and has expanded to 13 locations across Asia. In China, Tom and his partners were first-round investors into Airwallex, Dianwoda, Teambition, Tuniu, UR, and WaveOptics. He was named to the Forbes List of China’s Top VCs from 2013 – 2017. For two years, he served as CEO for DMG and created the world’s first subway soap opera starring Huang Xiaoming. Tom also leads the team that manages the Alibaba Hong Kong Entrepreneurs Fund, which has invested in companies like AutoX, DayDayCook, GoGoX, Prenetics, and WeLab. In 2015, Tom relocated to Kuala Lumpur where he set up several funds with MAVCAP, Malaysia’s largest VC firm. Gobi has invested in over 65 companies in Southeast Asia, including Aerodyne, Carsome, EasyParcel, iStoreiSend, Kumu, and Synagie. Tom is now building Gobi’s TaqwaTech investment practice focused on innovative startups serving Muslim communities such as Airlift, Sastaticket, and UmrahMe. Tom graduated from Harvard University with a BA in Economics and was the inspiration for Seinfeld’s ‘Movie Phone’ episode. In 2006, he founded SEO China, a non-profit organization, which has provided hundreds of internships for underserved college students. He also serves as Chair of the Presidential Scholars Foundation, which cultivates, connects, and celebrates U.S. Presidential Scholars (161 of the nation’s top high school seniors who are selected annually and honored by the White House).